'I called my wife and said, 'Hey, I'm spending a little money today,'' he said. After a friend advised Leland of an online government auction, he warned his wife about the potential of a big charge to their bank account. Navy, The Whale was a fully equipped mobile dental clinic that was scheduled to be decommissioned. They called their plan 'The Whale' (La Ballena in Spanish).īuilt in 1993 by the U.S. Leland continued to practice in San Antonio, but El Salvador-and the needs of its people-never left his mind.īy the time the two met face to face in 2012, they'd been sharing ideas for nearly two years, and they'd hatched an ambitious plan that would take them another two years-and many frustrations and setbacks-to finally put into action. Although a generation apart in age, both men were motivated by strong faith-based beliefs in the importance of helping the poor-and both loved surfing, fishing and dentistry.Ĭarranza worked as a dentist for El Salvador's public utility and practiced at his own clinic in the afternoons. 'He sounded like a really good guy who had a lot in common with me,' Carranza said, so he tracked down Leland's email address and the two established contact. Oscar Carranza was surfing when he heard from an American tourist about the 'surfer dentist' in El Cuco. Not long after Leland's visit, Salvadoran dentist Dr. This is where I am supposed to be helping,'' he said. In fact, while walking along the beach with his wife one afternoon, he had a realization. He treated 50 patients that week, and realized at some point that he was doing more dentistry than surfing. So Leland decided to do some volunteer dentistry on his vacation.Īlthough the hotel staff at Azul Surf Club hotel knew of his plans, they nonetheless were amazed to see him arrive with an air compressor, instruments and 'everything you need to do dentistry except a chair,' he said. And few can easily afford-or sometimes even locate-a dentist. The beauty of the beach community belies the fact that its residents are poor, many making a simple living selling food, or fishing in small boats. One such place was Playa El Cuco in southeast El Salvador, a beach known for having a consistent, smooth wave that breaks to the right.

So to indulge his craves for waves, Leland traveled frequently to Hawaii, Costa Rica and Panama, and scoured the Internet to discover other promising, more out-of-the-way surf spots.

The Houston native, who grew up surfing, has practiced dentistry for 36 years in a thoroughly landlocked city-San Antonio. John Leland began doing volunteer dentistry in El Salvador in 2009, he wasn't looking for a lifetime commitment.

Stolen World by Jennie Erin Smith